Patriots have filed an amicus brief in support of Brady/NFLPA.

[SVN]

Pats file brief in Brady’s defense—will it help?

 

[PatsDeb]

The d-bags in this forum who have slandered Bob Kraft's good name can all eat crow and issue their aplologies now.

On the contrary. I'm glad the Pats/Kraft FINALLY did something, but it's probably too little too late.

 

[lamafist]

I don't forget it at all. I'd argue that it did help a lot in shifting public perception. I'd point to that and Belichick's press conference as pretty much the turning points where it occurred to people that maybe the Pats hadn't done anything wrong. It absolutely shifted the narrative, at least until the Wells Report dropped.

What? Maybe those things shifted the narrative in New England, but the rest of the country had pretty much convicted the Pats and Brady the second the story broke.

 

[jimnance]

I'll say this much:

I think Bob has been weasel-y at times during this whole debacle but that's because he's probably trying to walk a fine line between blowing up his standing in the league and standing by Brady.

I think you need look no further than Brady's actions as a good barometer of how Kraft has been, overall. Do you think Tom Brady would redone his deal and saved this team cap space if he felt Kraft was leaving him out to dry? Do you think Tom would still be interested in coming in here and working his ass off if Kraft was as bad as you guys make him out to be?

Kraft standing by Goodell and saying he's done a good job overall is gall inducing no matter where you stand on it and likely done out of self-interest in preserving his standing in the league. But when push comes to shove I think Kraft has shown multiple times that he will stand by Tom to his own detriment and that is why I believe that the team did decide to take it on the chin in the appeals process hoping that the Commish would go easier on Tom. (Not to mention that the idea that the Commissioner would scale back the punishments on appeal is laughable and everyone here knows that)

Again - if Kraft was as bad as you guys say Brady would be acting very differently right now, that's all the proof that I need that overall Kraft has still been in Brady's corner and remains there.

I pretty much agree with everything here except the last sentence. IF Brady thought Kraft was as bad as the guys you referenced say he is(and I agree Brady doesnt think that), but IF he did-Tom is such a stand-up guy that I believe he WOULD redo his deal and save the team cap space. Why? Because even if he hated Kraft(and he doesnt), he feels a responsibility to his coaches and teammates and to the fans. He knows the hard work and sacrifices(including financial) that many of his teammates have made, to build a championship team. I think he still feels gratitude to BB for giving him a shot all those years ago-and in BB, he has a soulmate who will always do whats in the best interest of the team. And I know he believes they all have unfinished business.

 

[fnordcircle]

I pretty much agree with everything here except the last sentence. IF Brady thought Kraft was as bad as the guys you referenced say he is(and I agree Brady doesnt think that), but IF he did-Tom is such a stand-up guy that I believe he WOULD redo his deal and save the team cap space. Why? Because even if he hated Kraft(and he doesnt), he feels a responsibility to his coaches and teammates and to the fans. He knows the hard work and sacrifices(including financial) that many of his teammates have made, to build a championship team. I think he still feels gratitude to BB for giving him a shot all those years ago-and in BB, he has a soulmate who will always do whats in the best interest of the team. And I know he believes they all have unfinished business.

It's really impossible for us to know. Tom's a fiery guy, I think it's hard to imagine him trying to help an organization whose owner he felt was hanging him out to dry. I honestly think he'd demand a trade and I think all of New England would support him.

 

[Tony2046]

Pats file brief in Brady’s defense—will it help?

McCann has a few interesting thoughts. 1. This is definitely more than just a gesture of good faith. 2. An Amicus from the Patriots (An NFL partner) may carry more weight than any other outside party.

Still, for a league that unpersuasively argued to the U.S. Supreme Courtthat it and its 32 teams ought to be regarded as a “single entity” under federal antitrust law—essentially one company with 32 different departments—it is stunning to see one of those franchises now openly criticize the commissioner in a federal appellate filing. Indeed, the Patriots go beyond merely supporting Brady and the NFLPA. Through Goldberg, the team sharply critiques the commissioner himself. Goldberg highlighting “fundamental unfairness” and “fundamental flaws” is tantamount to a full-scale rebuke of the commissioner.

Still, the 13 judges who are considering Brady’s petition probably will find it meaningful that the Patriots are openly criticizing the same disciplinary process that Brady and the NFLPA contend is unlawful. While most amicus briefs may play, at most, a minimal role in an appeal, one filed by a party that is technically a member of the opposing party should attract the judges’ attention. We’ll find out if it makes a difference.

 

[jimnance]

It's really impossible for us to know. Tom's a fiery guy, I think it's hard to imagine him trying to help an organization whose owner he felt was hanging him out to dry. I honestly think he'd demand a trade and I think all of New England would support him.

Well hell yeah, wed all support him. I agree Toms a fiery guy-but I think in the end, he would stay because he feels teammates are depending on him, many of whom have also taken pay cuts(ie JE11). But i think he would have a private convo with Kraft and ream him out-let him know how he felt about him-but was staying only due to loyalty to teammates and coaches-not to him. because , in the end, he'll always do the right thing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

McCann has a few interesting thoughts. 1. This is definitely more than just a gesture of good faith. 2. An Amicus from the Patriots (An NFL partner) may carry more weight than any other outside party.

This might have a greater purpose than to help TB12.

Other angle is Bob might be extending an olive branch to the NFLPA so in the next CBA there may be some kind of amicable, good faith negotiations and not the state of war and distrust that Goody has created .

 

[lamafist]

I pretty much agree with everything here except the last sentence. IF Brady thought Kraft was as bad as the guys you referenced say he is(and I agree Brady doesnt think that), but IF he did-Tom is such a stand-up guy that I believe he WOULD redo his deal and save the team cap space. Why? Because even if he hated Kraft(and he doesnt), he feels a responsibility to his coaches and teammates and to the fans. He knows the hard work and sacrifices(including financial) that many of his teammates have made, to build a championship team. I think he still feels gratitude to BB for giving him a shot all those years ago-and in BB, he has a soulmate who will always do whats in the best interest of the team. And I know he believes they all have unfinished business.

But would he greet Kraft with a kiss on the cheek on the sidelines? Would he invite Kraft to his wife's book party? Would he continue to have dinner at Kraft's on a regular basis?

 

[jimnance]

But would he greet Kraft with a kiss on the cheek on the sidelines? Would he invite Kraft to his wife's book party? Would he continue to have dinner at Kraft's on a regular basis?

Well obviously no to all of the above. But he wouldn't say anything publicly.

 

[ausbacker]

I'm not going to get into the too little too late debate as I am genuinely miffed with Bob Kraft however, if he really wants to prove which side he is on, get Goodell fired. There are smarter, more appropriately skilled people who can better act as the owners' public mouthpiece and fall guy.

My hope is this document is public commentary rebuking Goodell's conduct and "integrity".

 

[anditsgood]

Well, it only took 493 days.....

Or only 492 days too late

 

[Wheelman]

Other angle is Bob might be extending an olive branch to the NFLPA so in the next CBA there may be some kind of amicable, good faith negotiations and not the state of war and distrust that Goody has created .

Damn, that's a good point. I'm sure hope that doesn't happen. The NFLPA needs to tell the NYJFL* to piss off in CBA negotiations. NFLPA makes their reasonable demands, NYJFL* accepts or strike. Play hardball now or head down the same path as before.

 

[lamafist]

I'm not going to get into the too little too late debate as I am genuinely miffed with Bob Kraft however, if he really wants to prove which side he is on, get Goodell fired. There are smarter, more appropriately skilled people who can better act as the owners' public mouthpiece and fall guy.

My hope is this document is public commentary rebuking Goodell's conduct and "integrity".

He already tried - and came surprisingly close - to getting enough owners on board with a deal with the NFLPA to have Goodell's disciplinary powers reduced, which would have entailed dropping their cases against Brady and Adrian Peterson. Unfortunately, it fell apart after details were leaked to the press too early.

What do you think his comments praising Goodell's job re everything but discipline were about?

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Dont know if this moves the dial, but it is a good thing. Good job, Bob.

I wonder if we ought to be thanking Ted Olson. The man is "the man" in appeals before Federal Courts and the Supreme Court. I wonder if it was his idea. That might explain why now rather than before it was filed... to get an amicus brief on the record to strengthen the the chances of getting the en banc hearing...
Can you picture Olson calling Kraft and saying,
"Bob we need your lawyers to write an amicus brief supporting Brady's position.""" There is no way Kraft can turn him down and still even remotely pretend to support Brady.
Edit- props to NashuaPats. I didn't see that he had postulated this before I posted the same..

 

[Tony2046]

This might have a greater purpose than to help TB12.

Other angle is Bob might be extending an olive branch to the NFLPA so in the next CBA there may be some kind of amicable, good faith negotiations and not the state of war and distrust that Goody has created .

The PR aspects don't hurt either.

 

[ausbacker]

He already tried - and came surprisingly close - to getting enough owners on board with a deal with the NFLPA to have Goodell's disciplinary powers reduced, which would have entailed dropping their cases against Brady and Adrian Peterson. Unfortunately, it fell apart after details were leaked to the press too early.

What do you think his comments praising Goodell's job re everything but discipline were about?

That's really the problem. Hug you from the front, stab you from behind.

 

[goheels22002]

Does this mean the Patriots are actually joining the fray, or just a legal version of Kraft saying "I support Tom"? Just curious.

Spongebob Lawyerpants to the rescue!

 

[Deus Irae]

Just to defend Kraft vs those who think it's too late which it might be but this was something he wouldn't have considered until he exhausted all back door negotiating possible. Now that point may have still been last July or he could have been trying all year and finally just said F it.

That's not really defending Kraft. That just damns him more.

 

[PatsBoy12]

This also means no way in hell the NFL would let us win the superbowl and will try damn hard to keep us out of the playoffs

Dude, I don't disagree at all. I feel that's what happened last season somewhat. That DEN game is still ****ing bothering me, no matter what happened against the Eagles or Dolphins. That DEN game was ours and the NFL took it. **** 'em.